Ferry stranded off the coast of South Jeolla, all passengers rescued

All 109 people aboard a ferry stranded in waters off the coast of Seoul Jeolla were rescued this morning, according to officials.

Around 9:11 a.m., a tourist ferry, carrying 104 passengers and five crew members ran aground after it struck a rock in waters around 200 meters off of Hongdo, a cluster of islands situated in Sinan County.

The Coast Guard responded to distress signals and arrived at the scene around 9:30 a.m., rescuing the passengers with the assistance of nearby vessels and fishing boats.

The accident comes as the country is working towards improving safety regulations after the tragic sinking of the Sewol in April, leaving over 300 dead.

The rescued passengers were transferred to Hongdo ports, said officials.

The Coast Guard is still confirming the details of the accident.

BY SARAH KIM [sarahkim@joongang.co.kr]